Fears grow of Fiji military coup

Two Australian ships are on stand-by, in case its citizens need to leave.

Army chief Frank Bainimarama has been at odds with the government for months, and has repeatedly threatened to force PM Laisenia Qarase to resign.

Mr Qarase said on Wednesday that neither he nor his government would stand down.

"I declare emphatically that there is absolutely no question of me resigning in response to the situation or of my government standing down," he said during an address to the nation.

Mr Qarase also warned that any move against his government would have international repercussions.

"The international community is now more proactive in protecting democratically elected governments when the rule of law and its constitutionality are threatened or overturned," he said.

Mounting concern

Tensions in Fiji have been mounting since Tuesday, when a senior military officer defied a government order to replace Commodore Bainimarama.

In a show of support for their leader, troops have now seized a large quantity of ammunition at the port in the capital, Suva, and have taken up positions nearby.

Thousands of reservists are also reported to have been mobilised.

Commodore Bainimarama, who is in the Middle East inspecting troops, has said he would continue to demand that the government resign.

"I'll be back to see that Qarase and his cronies step down," he was quoted as telling the Fiji Sun.

The situation has caused concern abroad, with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer saying there was a real danger that the military could try to seize power.

"We obviously hope very much that a coup doesn't go ahead, but there is nevertheless a real risk that this may happen," he told Australian media.

Navy ships are on stand-by to help Australians leave Fiji if the situation worsens.

New Zealand and the United States have also warned Fiji's military commanders to stay out of politics.

"We urge Fiji's military leadership to refrain from any actions that could be seen as a provocation or threat to the democratically-elected government," said US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

Coup legacy

The military and the government have been at odds for many months.

At the heart of the feud are plans by the nationalist government to offer amnesties to those involved in a racially motivated coup six years ago.

The proposal is bitterly opposed by Commodore Bainimarama, who was the main target of the mutiny, and was forced to flee for his life.

He also played a key role in putting down the uprising, and has made clear that he does not feel the government has done enough to bring its perpetrators to justice.

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